The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-28
RAILWAY POOLING.
Mattoon Protests Against Injury to Its Inter.
ests by Railway Determinations.
Special to the indianapolis yourna,.

Specal 10 the INDIANAPOLIS Journal.
NATION, H., March 26-As the days 60 by
the people of this city are realizing more and
more the abuses they have been subjected to by
the railway companies whose lines pass through,
or the effects of the pooling system which has
prevailed at this point for a number of years
past. While much has been said heretofore
upon this subject, the people we're never before
30 much in earnest in the matter of seeking re-
dress as they are at the present time, and the
seeng is rapidly growing ard gaming force
with each succeeding day. An action in the
courts will soon be instituted if the provisions
of the contract between the Indianapolis & St.
Louis Railway Company and the city not
speedily complied with on the part of the COM
mpany.
Mattoon has given a third of million dollars
In aid to railroads, and for a time she received
{, fair treatment from the management of the
several lines passing through the city, but with
the advent of the pooling system and the conse
quent andeavor on the part of the managers to
steal all the grain away from each others lines
just outside of the city limits-pool limits-her
progress was checked by the diversion of ship
Den.s without benefiting the little surrounding
shipping points in the least.
Tho l. u ST. Il. contract provides that the
work of building and repairing shall be done in
Mattoon. This has not been complied with, ex-
cept to a limited degree. for years past. and the
management has been busy making excuses for
their failure to fulfill their part of the obligation
Bat the detracting influence of the pooling sys-
tenn practlced for q number Of years past has
been the principal detriment TO the citys rapid
, progress. Hundreds of instances are record
where the roads are used to help any surround
ing town at the expense of this city and the
stippers of this city. and it is sincerely hoped
shat the new interstate law will afford some re-
sress 10 the abused people. Said a
orirV.n IF n
Illinois road, the other day. TO your correspond
ent: 81 notice that President Charles Francis
Adams, of the Boston Commercial Club, in a
rpeech recently delivered the new interstate
law, defends the pooling system and main ntains
that it's abolition is the worst feature of the
measure. while he finds some sections which are
iommendable from his stand point a railroad
man. Now continued the ex-superintendent,
''the pooling syse--a may be all right for the
parties who rDanipriate and water the stock of a
iaroad by the milion without adding fraction
Df the increased value TO the property which is
squeezed to pay interests and dividends, to-
gether with the patrons of the lines. but its
abolition by the new law will almost certainly
prove great benefit to the people. who have
given enough TO pay for the building and equip
ping of most roads of the State. Under the pres
ont plan of making railway stock values highly
fictitious, 1t becomes almost necessity for a
man who aspires to the position Of manager of a
line to resort to al! manner of sharp practice
snd downright dishonesty to make the earnings
pay fixed charges and perhaps a small dividend
10 stockholders; whereas, if useless and
unnecessary expenditures for superfuous Of
hcers and agents cut off the showing would
Oe much better, and II the lines were managed
in fair and honorable way, they would show
handsome earnings Fifteen years ago a super
intendent who couid not inspect his line any
kind of conveyance. from an ordinary passenger
train down TO a handcar, and help pump it him
self was considered no good and defective
bridges were not common then now"
But to return to the pool system" said he
sMr Adams's regrets come with a very slight
interest to the people who know that its abuses
some of the principal reasons for the adoption
If the interstate law. and its abolition the bes
ching that could be done for the people,"
party in this city having about twenty ivt
car loads of broom corn to ship TO Chicago wa:
given l7-cent rate as the best the Illinois Cen
trail would do. Through n commission man il
Chicago he secured l5-cent rate from the Wa
bash and Peoria. Decatur & Evansville, 81. 35 Il
60 to the latter and 81 65 to the former. OF
which the p, D. q E. woud haze had but six
teen-miie haul while the Wabash would have car
sivd it from Sullivan to Chicago. same distance
% from this city. But application for car
he p, D. g. Z. refused to take the freight unles
he owner would load it outside the city poo
limits. as, by the terms of the agreement be
tween the lines, the business properly belonge,
70 the Central.
y A few days later shipper at Sullivan desired
TO take hts broomcorn TO the Chicago market
He was induced to load on the p, ID. 81 E. Tn,
ears were brought to Mattoon. billed as origi
mating at Evansville, Ind. and turned over Il
the Illinois Central. with which the rate was di
vded equally. Hence, it will be seen that tn.
Central charged cents for shipping freight ORIG
fnating within sixteen miles of Ma.toon Will
che Mattoon shipper was charged IL cents pc
hundred
By giving lower rates at many Of the little sta
tions few miles out from this city. not poole
points, business is daily detracted from the tow
which gave enough to nnild the roads for twent
80 fifty miles In every direction, and her peopl
will not quietly bear with such studied insult
and determinations longer If there is any mean
of redress within their reach through any lega
channel They hope the provisions of the ne'
law will be sufficient to give them just treat
inent
An Appeal to Irishmen.
LINcoLH, Neb., March 26-The executiv
H.. aLa Liza MI al L